A ceremony was held at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS on the occasion of 5 December — International Volunteer Day — to honor instructors who participated in the training process within the first and second cycles of the Volunteer Program, as well as volunteers distinguished within the Summer Volunteer Team of the first cycle.

Opening the event, Institute Director Associate Professor Farhad Guliyev, PhD in History, welcomed participants and emphasized that the project’s main goal was to provide practical experience for young people interested in Azerbaijan’s historical material heritage and in working alongside archaeologists. He noted that conducting volunteer internships at the Institute’s museum in the Inner City offers important professional advantages due to the museum’s status and strong tourist interest, opening future opportunities for participants. He added that the choice of date was symbolic, coinciding with International Volunteer Day, and confirmed that the initiative would continue.

A video presentation highlighting volunteer activities during the summer phase of the program was then shown.

Yagub Mammadov, PhD in History and Leading Researcher at the Institute, who served as a trainer in the program, congratulated volunteers and stressed the importance of involving them in future archaeological excavations, noting the long-term impact such experience could have on their careers.

Associate Professor Sevinc Nasirova, PhD in History and Scientific Secretary of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, emphasized that the joint initiative of the Institute and the Museum had provided volunteers with valuable archaeological knowledge. She expressed personal satisfaction in contributing as a trainer.

Fidan Ashrafli, a distinguished volunteer from the Summer Volunteer Team and a student of Marketing and Management at the Azerbaijan Cooperative University, thanked organizers and proposed ideas for promoting Azerbaijan’s history through interaction with tourists.

Associate Professor Nasir Guluzade, PhD in History and Head of the Archaeology Scientific Fund Department of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, noted that some volunteers may pursue archaeology professionally in the future and expressed his appreciation for participating in the project.

Following the speeches, instructors were awarded certificates of appreciation, while outstanding volunteers received certificates, diplomas, and commemorative gifts.

In closing remarks, project coordinator Orkhan Zamanov, Head of the Institute’s Department for the Organization of Scientific Expositions, reported that 600 applications had been received at the start of the initiative and 450 applications were submitted for the second intake. He emphasized that selection was conducted transparently and that the scientific level of training and participant engagement demonstrated that the program has become a sustainable institutional model. He highlighted the key role of instructors in equipping 207 participants with foundational archaeological knowledge and expressed gratitude to the Institute leadership and teaching staff for their support.